Apprehensions stall PSQCA DG appointment as Zia Batool hesitates to join amid legal cloud

ISLAMABAD: Two weeks after her appointment was officially notified, Ms. Zia Batool has yet to assume charge as Director General (DG) of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), as legal and procedural uncertainties continue to cast a long shadow over the post. According to insiders, Ms. Batool is reportedly hesitant to join the technical regulatory body due to mounting concerns that her appointment could face immediate legal challenges once she takes office.
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) issued a formal reminder to Ms. Batool this week, urging her to assume charge. However, officials familiar with the development said she remains reluctant to join, citing the highly technical nature of the post, ongoing court cases, and the possibility that her appointment could be declared void due to procedural irregularities in the selection process.
This development comes just weeks after the Ministry of Law and Justice advised MoST to resolve all legal hurdles, including active court cases and objections, before proceeding with the DG appointment. The advisory was issued following the return of the appointment summary by the Prime Minister’s Office, which sought further clarification after it was discovered that the summary did not mention the ongoing legal proceedings.
Controversial Shortlisting Raises Questions
Sources within the ministry acknowledge that Ms. Batool’s nomination has raised eyebrows, primarily because of her lack of experience in technical domains central to PSQCA’s regulatory work. Her career has largely been in education management, with senior roles at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Punjab Higher Education Department, and as Chairperson of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA). None of these roles, insiders argue, provide the requisite background in standardization, conformity assessment, or quality assurance — all critical to the PSQCA mandate.
The controversy has been further fuelled by a petition filed by Akhtar Bugyo, currently serving as DG of the Pakistan Halal Authority. He has challenged the selection process in court, alleging that Ms. Batool neither fulfilled the advertised MP-I Scale eligibility criteria nor participated in previous interviews held for the same position. He claims she lacks the academic qualifications and specialized technical experience necessary for heading a regulatory authority that deals with import/export standards, product testing, and industrial compliance.
Another shortlisted candidate has also come under scrutiny for lacking relevant expertise, having spent over 15 years in university-level academic quality assurance and plagiarism oversight — areas unrelated to PSQCA’s regulatory function.
In contrast, insiders say the third candidate on the panel had hands-on experience with PSQCA operations and was considered technically competent. Despite this, Ms. Batool was placed at the top of the list by the selection board, which included Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi, Secretary Sajid Baloch, and other senior officials.
Legal and Political Implications Loom
With two court cases already underway and a formal complaint filed against the selection process, legal experts say Ms. Batool’s eventual joining could lead to immediate litigation — potentially stalling PSQCA’s leadership appointment for a fourth time in as many years.
“This appointment, if implemented, is likely to be challenged in court the same day. The case is weak both on technical grounds and procedural merit,” a senior ministry official confided, requesting anonymity.
This would not be the first time that the federal government’s attempt to fill the PSQCA top slot has backfired. Earlier summaries forwarded by the ministry were rejected by the Establishment Division and the federal cabinet over similar concerns — primarily the non-compliance with the advertised eligibility requirements under the MP-I policy.
Vacancy Continues to Paralyze PSQCA
The PSQCA has remained without a permanent head for over two years, despite being the country’s principal body for setting and enforcing industrial and consumer standards. The prolonged leadership vacuum has reportedly slowed down key regulatory functions, including conformity assessments and standardization procedures that directly impact trade, public safety, and quality control of imported and domestically produced goods.
Officials in the Ministry of Science and Technology acknowledge that the authority’s efficiency has been compromised and warn that any more delays could damage the country’s already strained international reputation on quality compliance and technical regulation.